One Step Closer

Chapter Two

I fell asleep during our trip. Sino ba naman ang hindi antukin sa dami ng luha na binuhos ko kanina. Ginising ako ni ate nang makarating na kami sa bahay ni nanay. Before we got out, ate gave me a paper bag. Nagtaka ako nang makita kung ano ang laman nito. It's the newest brand of Samsung phone.

“Sira na ang phone mo, 'di ba? That…” turo niya sa box ng phone na hindi pa nabubuksan. “That will be your new phone. Bumili na rin ako ng bagong sim for a reason. If you don't want to talk to him yet, gamitin mo ang bagong sim na 'yan para hindi ka masaktan na makita ang pangalan ni Ace sa phone mo.”

I can't help, but smile at her. She's really the best ate I could ever ask for. "Thank you, ate. Thank you talaga."

“Let's go na. Naghihintay na si nanay.”

Parang gumaan ang pakiramdam ko nang makita ko si nanay na naghihintay sa'min sa labas ng bahay niya. As soon as I stepped outside the car, I ran towards her and hugged so tight.

“I missed you, 'nay!”

Inakap naman ako pabalik ni nanay para mas lalong gumaan ang mabigat na pakiramdam na dinamdam ko kanina.

“Na-miss din kita, apo. Bakit ngayon lang kayo bumisita?” Tanong ni lola kay ate habang nakabalot pa rin ako sa yakap niya.

“Busy lang ho sa opisina. Hindi ko rin po kasi papayagan 'tong si Lyn na pumunta lang mag-isa rito,” sagot ni ate sabay yakap saglit kay nanay.

“Alam mo, nakita ko siya sa tv kanina. Ang ganda-ganda niya. Nag-usap na ba kayo? Hindi ba't iisang kompanya lang kayo?”

Hindi nakaimik si ate. I know it was hard for her to make that decision— no, it was hard for her to decline that sudden decision. For the sake of achieving the goal of being one of the richest women in the world, tita sold her only daughter for her own selfish goal. I was with papa during that time, kaya hindi ko siya natulungan. I could do risky things just for her dahil gano'n din siya sa'kin noong highschool pa ako.

“Hindi pa po. Busy po ako.”

“Nay,” I broke the sickening vibes of regret. “Pasok na po tayo, 'nay. Anong oras na.”

“Oo nga pala. Sige na, pasok na tayo para makapagpahinga kayo. Ang layo pa naman ng binyahe niyo. Alam niyo naman na siguro kung nasa'n ang kwarto niyo, 'di ba?” Inalalayan namin si nanay papasok sa loob ng bahay niya.

“Yes po, 'nay. Kayo rin po, matulog na po kayo.”

Hinatid namin si nanay sa kwarto niya at tinulungan na makahiga sa kama nito. We covered her whole body with the blanket and bid goodnight before we left her in her room. Ate left for a while since she need to answer a sudden call. Habang naghihintay na bumalik si ate. Nag-unboxing muna ako and put the sim card that ate bought for me. Wala pa kasi akong lakas ng loob na gamitin ang dati kong sim card. Itinago ko muna sa likod ng case ng phone ko ang sim card ko noon para naman kung may lakas-loob na ako... gagamitin ko ulit 'yon.

When everything was already set, I opened my account and all I could read was my friends' messages asking me if I'm okay. Some of them told me na they saw me crying in the hallway after class. That's probably the time when I walked so fast as my tears kept falling down on my cheeks. Wala akong ganang mag-reply sa kanila, so I turned off my phone and sighed. Tumingin ako sa orasan, it's already 12 midnight. Hindi pa bumabalik si ate.

I put my phone inside my pocket and walked outside the door. Nakita ko si ate sa may bakuran, blowing the smoke from the cigarette.

“Ate.”

She hurriedly threw the cigarette from her hand and faced me like she had no problem in mind.

“Okay ka lang ba?” I worriedly asked.

“There's a problem... I need to... I…” she paused for a second before she took a deep breath and sighed. “Kailangan kong bumalik sa kompanya ngayon. Okay lang ba sa'yo na maiwan dito? I'll fetch you before your enrollment.”

Alam ko na agad kung anong problema ang pinapahiwatig niya. “It's fine, ate. Gusto ko rin kasing mag-stay muna rito para naman makapag-pahangin muna ako. I need some fresh air after all the things that happened to me in one day. Para naman gumaan 'tong pakiramdam ko.”

“I see,” she smiled. “I know you'll be fine pero update me, okay? Isang tawag mo lang, pupuntahan agad kita rito.”

“Ate, alalahanin mo muna ang problema mo ngayon. Sigurado akong mas mabigat ang dinadala mo ngayon. You should worry about yourself more than mine.”

“I have to keep Tito's promise. Siyempre, kahit anumang problema ang kinakaharap ko ngayon, you'll always be my top one priority. Hindi kita pwedeng talikuran.”

“Sana gano'n ka rin sa kaniya noon, ate.”

“Sana gano'n din siya sa'yo ngayon.”

I creased my eyebrows. “What do you mean, ate?”

She hugged me. “Wala, aalis na ako. Tawag ka lang kung may problema. If I can't answer your call, just leave a message since I will check my phone from time to time kapag may free time ako. Do you understand?”

Tinapik ko naman ang likuran niya. “Yes po, ate. Mag-ingat ka sa biyahe, anong oras na. Masyado ka namang ginawang alipin ng pamilya na 'yan. Wala ka bang balak na mag-file ng annulment?”

“If I could, I would, Solene Reese.”

“You can, but you won't. You just don't have the reason to let go or you're afraid something might happen to her if you would.”

Kinurot niya ang pisngi ko. “Ang dami mong nalalaman. Sige na, pumasok ka na. Anong oras na gising na gising ka pa.”

“Matutulog lang po ako kapag naka-alis na kayo.”

“Paki-sabi na lang kay nanay na nauna na ako. I still have a lot of things to do in the company. You take care of her while I'm away, okay?”

“Yes po.”

She kissed my forehead before she went inside the car and drove away from nanay's house. Mapait akong ngumiti hanggang sa tuluyan ko nang hindi makita ang sasakyan ni ate.

“I guess... I'll heal on my own.”